The Super Bowl's almost here. But when the Colts and Saints face off, who are the must-know players? Evan Silva and Chris Wesseling have answers.

They've detailed 10 guys from each team and if they play a major role in the offense, are a contributor or merely a role player.

MAJOR ROLES

Drew Brees, Saints quarterback
The only quarterback yet to throw a postseason interception, Brees is coming off a relatively ho-hum effort against Minnesota. The Saints' game plan focused on short passing to neutralize Vikings edge rushers Jared Allen and Ray Edwards. They face an even stiffer challenge in the Super Bowl when New Orleans offensive tackles Jermon Bushrod and Jon Stinchcomb take on Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Indianapolis' defensive ends combined for a whopping 23 sacks and six forced fumbles this regular season. Brees will have to get rid of the football quickly.

Dallas Clark, Colts, tight end
At first look this should represent a strength-versus-strength matchup as Clark earned a first-team All-Pro selection while the Saints finished as a Top-5 defense against tight ends. Visanthe Schiancoe's 20-yard average on four receptions last week, however, suggests Clark can exploit the Saints if they're spread too thin in covering Indy's talented trio of wide receivers.

Marques Colston, Saints receiver
Colston led the Saints in catches, yards, and touchdown receptions this regular season. He was a beast in the divisional round, racking up six grabs for 84 yards and a score in a rout of Arizona. Colston, though, is coming off one of the slowest efforts of his career, managing just 22 yards in the NFC title game. An outside-the-numbers receiver, Colston's impact was negated by a number of short, over-the-middle-throws to backs, tight ends, and slot receivers. Colston should turn it around as he goes against Colts undrafted rookie cornerback Jacob Lacey.

Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end
Freeney finished the season with 13.5 sacks, including a streak of eight consecutive games with a takedown. The league's best pass rusher will rest a bit after spraining his ankle against the Jets, though he's fully expected to play in the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning hasn't lost a fumble since 2007, but Brees lost six this season. You can bet Freeney and fellow Pro Bowler Robert Mathis will be gunning for Brees' right arm.

Peyton Manning, Colts quarterback
From the two-minute mark in the first half through the rest of the AFC title game, Manning played his position as well as it can be played. With Darrelle Revis blanketing Reggie Wayne, Manning orchestrated scoring drives featuring one each of Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, and Dallas Clark while picking apart football's best pass defense. The four-time MVP struts into the Super Bowl sitting alone at the apex of his sport.

Will Smith, Saints defensive end

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New Orleans' top pass rusher finished the year fifth in the NFL in sacks. In the playoffs, however, Smith has no QB takedowns despite favorable matchups with Cardinals journeyman LT Jeremy Bridges and struggling Vikings LT Bryant McKinnie. The Saints must get to Peyton Manning to upset Indianapolis, and Smith will face off with another left tackle with limited ability. Colts LT Charlie Johnson was a projected guard coming out of Oklahoma State four years ago because of mediocre protection skills. At least on paper, Smith has a big advantage in terms of athleticism.

Pierre Thomas, Saints running back
Thomas' 4.2 yards-per-carry average is down from his regular season mark of 5.4. He has taken over as New Orleans' every-down back, however, with Mike Bell firmly on the bench and Reggie Bush touching the ball just 18 times in two playoff wins compared to Thomas' 33. Coach Sean Payton knows Thomas is his best tailback option, particularly in short-yardage situations as he proved last week by executing in OT for a monster first down on fourth-and-inches. Now facing a Colts defense that ranks 24th against the run, Thomas is a sleeper for Super Bowl MVP honors.

Reggie Wayne, Colts receiver
Though the Colts' No. 1 receiver played a minor statistical role last week, his presence drew enough attention to allow Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie to feast on mismatches throughout the game. Saints' top corner Jabari Greer enjoyed a Pro-Bowl caliber season, but he's not near Darrelle Revis' level. If Greer needs help to contain four-time Pro Bowler Wayne, Garcon and Collie will go off again.

CONTRIBUTORS

Joseph Addai, Colts running back
While the Saints boast a Top-10 pass defense, they finished among the bottom-feeders in run defense. As shown by Adrian Peterson's 122 yards and three touchdowns last week, the Saints' defensive weakness is a soft underbelly. Unfortunately for the Colts, Addai doesn't come close to Peterson in talent, size, or playmaking ability. With Peyton Manning facing heavy nickel and dime defenses, it's imperative that Addai leads a successful ground attack.

Gary Brackett, Colts middle linebacker
The Colts' consummate defensive leader has led a swarming attack in the playoffs, first limiting Ray Rice's impact before shutting down the Jets' "ground and pound" attack featuring Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones. Indy's defense has proven all year that they can contain the run when they know it's coming, but they'll be left guessing more often against Sean Payton's masterful playcalling.

Austin Collie, Colts receiver
The first-team all-rookie slot receiver calls to mind Brandon Stokley's performance in Peyton Manning's 2004 career-year. Collie has earned his quarterback's confidence with uncanny route running and terrific hands. While he may not match Stokley's after-the-catch quickness, the 6-1 Collie is superior down the seam and in the red zone. The Saints were exploited by slot receivers this year, which bodes well for Collie's chances of scoring in a third-straight game.

Pierre Garcon, Colts receiver
Early in the season, GM Bill Polian referred to Garcon as the best after-the-catch receiver the Colts have seen during his 12-year tenure. The second-year playmaker out of tiny Mt. Union flirted with a national breakout all season before finally snaring the spotlight last week with a dominant 11-catch, 151-yard torching of the Jets secondary. Expect the Saints corners to have similar issues, as they finished in the bottom third of the league against No. 2 receivers.

Robert Meachem, Saints receiver

During one five-game regular-season stretch (Weeks 9-13), Meachem scored eight touchdowns and appeared to emerge as New Orleans' clear No. 2 wideout behind Marques Colston. Since, he's scored just once and failed to top 66 yards in a game. Meachem has battled an ankle injury in the playoffs and amassed just two catches for 19 yards. Still, had a crucial 12-yard grab for a first down in overtime of the NFC Championship, and should be 100 percent against the Colts after benefiting from a two-week layoff. Meachem is a difference-maker at full strength.

Tracy Porter, Saints cornerback
A second-year player out of Indiana, Porter had about as gut-wrenching an NFC title game as humanly possible. In the fourth quarter alone, Porter forced Vikings WR Bernard Berrian to fumble a catch that was recovered by Saints LB Jonathan Vilma, was flagged for an 18-yard pass-interference penalty on Minnesota's game-tying drive, and capped it all off by intercepting the Brett Favre pass that sent the game into overtime. While making big plays is great, New Orleans will need more consistent play from Porter as he squares off with Reggie Wayne.

Jon Stinchcomb, Saints offensive tackle
The main task for most strong-side tackles is to prevent ends and linebackers from "setting the edge" in the run game. Stinchcomb's role differs in Sean Payton's throw-heavy scheme. His foremost job is to protect Drew Brees, as New Orleans essentially only uses the run to change its pace. This poses a potential matchup problem for the Saints because Stinchcomb's Super Bowl adversary, Colts LE Robert Mathis, is havoc-wreaking pass rusher and fumble-forcing machine. To contain him, Stinchcomb may have to come up with his best game of the season.

LIMITED ROLE

Reggie Bush, Saints running back/kick returner
Though only a change-of-pace back and return man, Bush's 4.4 speed can give opponents fits. Bush delivered in the divisional round by gashing Arizona for 216 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns, but was a non-factor in the NFC title game. Gaining just eight yards on seven carries, Bush's most impactful play came when he bailed out at the last second on a punt-return attempt while backed up to the Saints' end zone. Minnesota recovered at New Orleans' 10-yard line. The Saints cannot afford such miscues on Super Bowl Sunday.

Randall Gay, Saints cornerback

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Gay is not a starter, but enters for three-receiver sets as the Saints' nickel back. He'll essentially play starter snaps in the Super Bowl. Instead of using a fullback or two-tight end formations, the Colts flood the field with three and four wideouts constantly. The system allows Peyton Manning to avoid an opponent's best cover man and pick on the weaker ones, much like he did against Jets CB Dwight Lowery in the AFC Championship. Jabari Greer is New Orleans' best corner. Gay, Tracy Porter, and strong safety Roman Harper can expect a lot of passes to come their way.

Jacob Lacey, Colts cornerback
With fellow rookie Jerraud Powers sidelined by a foot injury, Jets receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards combined for 202 yards in the AFC title game. Powers could end up sitting against the Saints' more impressive trio of Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, and Devery Henderson in the Super Bowl. Though Lacey held his own as a nickelback and spot-starter during the regular season, the spotlight will be brighter in Miami.

Pat McAfee, Colts punter
While Reggie Bush's four-year NFL career deserves to be judged in a harsh light, the former No. 2 overall pick has been sublime as a returner in marquee games. He returned two punts for touchdowns on Monday Night Football last year and buried the Cardinals two weeks ago with an 83-yard return. McAfee, a rookie punter, will be charged with limiting Bush's impact on the biggest stage of them all in Miami.

Anthony Hargrove, Saints defensive tackle
A shot-in-the-dark signing for the Saints last May, Hargrove sat out all of 2008 to serve a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy three times. Converting from end to defensive tackle, Hargrove proved a godsend, earning six starts and a permanent spot in the Saints' rotation. He finished the season with 42 tackles and five sacks -- great numbers for a rotational lineman -- but has been conspicuously quiet this postseason. Hargrove has to step up in Miami because New Orleans needs as much pressure on Peyton Manning as it can muster.

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